Vivere

My husband made a reservation for us at The Village, with our one year old daughter. As this was our first time in Chicago we decided to eat close to our hotel, and so he researched this restaurant online (actually listed as kid-​friendly). We came in the front door of the Village passing another family on the way in and must have got mixed around as we ended up at Vivere (and had no clue until we were leaving). We did not realize there were three different restaurants inside the door. My husband mentioned our reservation to the front desk and they said they didn’t have one… which in hindsight we know why, since our reservation was actually at The Village. Noticing our casual dress and infant in stroller, it would have been nice for them to have mentioned something like «perhaps you have a reservation upstairs at the Village», or SOMETHING. We felt awkward the whole meal as the environment is a bit stiff and you can tell, not specifically kid friendly. Although the wait staff were nice about it, the food was just so-​so for the expensive price. I’m so disappointed we ended up here, rather than truly trying The Village. In hindsight, the signage made it very confusing.

Great place for italian food my girlfriend and i had a great time at vivere the ambiance was nice our food was delicious and Hector our server was very attentive and helpful his recomendations were spot on! From appetizers to entrees to desserts everything was delicious I strongly recommend this place if you’re in the mood for italian.

Visited last week for dinner. Met my parents at Vivere as I was in town for work, it was a first visit for us all. On the whole, I’d call this a mediocre dining experience with incredible food. Our service was slow, the restaurant is expensive, and the portion sizes are very small. But, bottom line, we all thought the food was incredible.
We started off with the Gnocchi Di Tartufo Nero con Astice e Spinaci (Homemade black truffle and potato dumpling, Maine lobster, spinach, white wine shallot sauce). I’m pulling these names and descriptions right off the menu, fyi. It was a delicious appetizer, only problem, it costs $ 16 and is only about 6 modest bites of food. So, you would think, when 3 people order an appetizer that costs $ 16 and it would be small for one person, the server would let you know, «hey, you’re basically getting no food to split between the 3 of you.» Unfortunately, we got no mention of that and, you know, it is what it is. At which point I’m thinking, «That was tasty, but I’m not overly impressed here so far.»
Then our entrees come out and before we start, you see pretty small portions and think, «This place is not getting a great review.» I had the Agnolottini di Fagiano (homemade Pheasant filled pasta, butter, sage, Parmigiano-​Reggiano), and damn, was this on point. One of the best entrees I’ve had in a long time. It was clear the pasta was homemade. The filling was delicious, the sauce was perfect, and I wish they gave me a lot more.
So, in the end, we split the appetizer 3-​ways, plus I had a glass of the house chianti and my entrée, and with tip, I spent $ 57. Given how much I enjoyed the meal, I’m okay with that, but I can’t go 5 stars here because as good as the food was, from a broader, experiential perspective, I was left wanting just a bit more.

wonderful food… we were here during the restaurant week and they really amazed me. interior is beautiful… Service was fine… only thing that i did not like is Arancini… They are way to small and a bit tasteless… but everything else was great… we will be back

I ate here the other night for restaurant week. First of all, excellent service. Our waiter was smiling and attentive. He made sure we had everything we needed. Second, our entrees and appetizers were really great. Good portions as well. My complaints about this place are two good. First of all, in simply not a fan of the atmosphere. The décor is very whimsical and modern, which isn’t my style. Just a personal preference though. The second issue was dessert. I ordered a mint and white chocolate panna cotta and it was simply the most bizarre thing I’ve ever had. It was BRIGHT green, not very appealing. The flavors of the panna cotta itself were ok. A like fake on the mint flavor. But then they just went overboard with embellishments. It was topped with cooked apples and garnished with sour cranberries, neither of which worked with the mint and white chocolate flavors. Very odd. A misstep in my opinion.
I recommend this place to anyone looking for good Italian entrees, good service, and a funky atmosphere if you like that style.

I’m surprised I never wrote a review here as I’ve been here a few times over the years. I love the décor in here as it is more modern than the other two spots. Our server was outstanding. He started by asking if we were going to a show and what time it was at. I know that most places in the theater district do that but I still appreciate that. We got there at 5:30 and most of the crowd didn’t come in until 6 so he was very helpful in saying we should order now to beat the rush. They had a decent selections of wine by the glass and the server was knowledgeable enough to describe one I was not familiar with. Bread basket was standard but they pour you oil and parmesean (upon request).
This last time I went, I got the scallops, which I don’t believe were diver as advertised. They were quite small. But they were cooked perfectly and very tasty. The accompaniments to the dish were good as well. Nothing blew me away but for a theater dinner, above average. My sister got the ravioli and she was a fan. I tried a bite and it was solid. But the filling for me was not where it should have been. The pasta to filling ratio was just off. Overall, a solid spot that I will continue to dine at with great ambiance and very good service.

Went here with some friends before a show at the Chicago theatre. We were significantly younger than most of the crowd which was fine, but they didn’t treat us with the respect we deserve. They made us feel rushed and told us we couldn’t Order the chicken because of time, even when we had called ahead to ask when was a good time to arrive.
They didn’t really smile much and made us feel rushed and unappreciated.
The food was good (I had the risotto) but the service was not.

Place is really nice on the inside. The service was okay that’s the only reason I didn’t give five stars. It took us a little while to get drinks or his attention at all. But my God did the food make up for it. I had a seafood pasta that topped any pasta fish I have had in my life. For dessert I had a chocolate cake that had house made fresh strawberry gelato on top. And I must say that, that too was one of the best if not the best desserts I have ever had. Props to chef James Giacometti. I highly recommend vivere to anyone who wants some real Italian food in chicago.

Went with six of us. Two had to leave for a play. We were seated at 5:30 and they left at 7:30 and we hadn’t finished dessert. We chose this restaurant because we thought we were going to the Italian Village but one person couldn’t walk upstairs, so we ate here. Don’t know if menus were different. Our waiter was nice but had to read every detail off a piece of paper. He tried, but it felt weird and not comfortable.
Food was good, but not outstanding. Duck on polenta ordered medium rare at the suggestion of the waiter, but came out medium well. We didn’t have any drinks, shared two salads, two bowls of soup, five meals, three soft drinks, a fancy coffee and one plain, and with tax and tip over $ 50.00 a person. I felt a little high for what we had. We did try tomato cheesecake… some liked, some didn’t but it was a different dessert item.
Might try again, if I visit Chicago.

The host was very happy. She greeted me with positive energy and that set the mood for a pleasant experience. The cook who prepared my food had a great personality and was friendly.

Excellent service! Excellent information about getting to the musical we were seeing.
Good food!

Loved the atmosphere, great place to take a date! Loved the service and absolutely loved the lamb chop on the menu! That little piece of meat was heaven! The steak on the menu was alright, nothing special! The staff and service were exceptional, an added star just for that! Went there for a special occasion and they gave us free crème brule and paid extra attention to our table which was really great! Will go back especially for the lamb chops!

Great service and the food is excellent. I went there for lunch, ordered the Calabrese with scallops, shrimp and calamari. It was a lunch meeting so I had to rush back to work so no time for appetizers and desserts. Just for the pasta, I will definitely come back!

Great atmosphere, occasionally slow service, underwhelming food, overall not worth the money. I left feeling disappointed. I’ve had much better Italian food in Virginia for much cheaper price.

This is an old school italian restaurant with a contemporary vibe. It has been obviously renovated at some poiint since they claim to have opened their doors in the 20s. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. My group was promptly seated and our drink order taken. Cocktails were delivered in a reasonable amount of time and expertly crafted. I ordered the raviolis and ceasar salad. Both the ravioli and the salad were very tasty. For dessert I enjoyed the lemon panna cotta which too did not disappoint. I really felt comfortable here and when in town again I would come back to sample other entrees and desserts they offer.

Ok to start off with there are 3 different establishments when yo enter the door. Upstairs is the old style casual. Bottom is classic and the middle Vivere is the classier of them.
felt a litle under dressed and like a place where buisness mena nd women come for lunch and well to do for dinner. other than that it was a good spot to eat for the price.
The flavors are on point and the portions are almost french, but that isn’t a bad thing.
Raspberry Sorbet and biscotti are the best i have had and have made all other encounters less. A bit touty but solid in the food and service, that is if you can get past Mary’s contribution of the fish spoon.

I’ve walked by that Italian Village sign now for years. Smack dab in the middle of the loop next to Chase Plaza, the red neon has been all but ignored by me. I was in town for an after work mixer and was looking for something close to shield me from the rain. Let’s just go in and see the menu, I thought. Not menu, but MENUS in this place, there are three restaurants on separate floors of the establishment. The Village upstairs offer traditional northern Italian fare, the Chop house has more of Italian steak and chop offering, and Vivere on the main floor has more contemporary offerings.
Honestly, I was a little put off by the prices in this place at first, because an alacarte three course meal will set you back about $ 65 per person without drinks, tax and tip. (They do offer a $ 65 per person four course meal prix fixe, which is a little better if you’re hungry.) However my companion and I decided to get creative because the menu offerings were so seductive. With options like pheasant ravioli and truffled gnocchi, the lure was too great.
There’s sort of a whimsical red interior to the place, kind of like an upscale Cheesecake Factory but much more intimate. The room is narrow with a row of private two tops along the way to the larger dining room in back. The service is consummately professional with water coming immediately upon sitting down and two extra menus as well featuring house cocktails on one and a bible of wine on the other. If you’re a lighter drinker, wines by the glass are offered on the first page of the regular menu. Our server was so polite and well-​informed, he helped us optimize our four course meal, telling us the specials and making recommendations as how to vary the courses. So how did we justify this indulgence? Two appetizers, one entrée, and one dessert were each split in half. The split portions were ample. Cha-​ching! I just saved 50% on my dinner!
We started off with truffled gnocchi, lobster chunks, spinach and lemon beurre blanc. This dish was nothing short of spectacular: delicate, flavorful and beautifully composed. Next was a grilled calamari salad with orange and fennel served family style. Perfectly grilled and piquant, I would have happily made this my main course. Then came the split risotto with crab, fava beans, peas, and morel mushrooms. A little heavier, this made a substantial entrée. The mixture of the beans and peas gave some texture to the plate, because in the end, if not properly cooked, risotto is nothing other than a fancy gruel. This one was so good! Finally a little splurge with a goat cheese basil cheese cake was a perfect way to top off the dinner. Finished with a blueberry port sauce and basil sauces, on the fresh blueberries, the basil cut the sweetness of the cheesecake.
Be aware that it has a very busy pre-​theater crowd and during conventions as well. On the night we were there at 7:30PM, the room was quiet with just a few tables of diners. All in all, I’d definitely go here again. Now that I’m savvy enough to understand how to negotiate the menu, I feel this is a great value for amazing food.

In two words… «Pasto perfetto».
From start to finish everything about my experience at this establishment was perfect. For starters the ambiance feels as if an old Chicago gangster married a Cirque du Soleil trapeze artist and designed a restaurant. It may sound absurd, but it’s beautiful and unlike anything else you may have ever seen before… a lot like love, which makes it romantic.
The sommelier, Ryan, is incredibly personable and not at all pretentious. It’s almost as if you are asking wine advise to your closest friend, but his knowledge is so much greater and his wine selection is one of the largest in the Downtown area. Sommeliers more often than not have a tendency of making you lose control over your choice of beverage and simply just make the decision for you… but not Ryan. It’s a mutual decision that he will make sure you are very comfortable with… he’s even got a great sense of humor to ease the tension in case there is a divide at your table.
Most importantly, let’s talk food. Personally I would suggest ordering the Chef Tasting. Chef James will come out to your table and hand craft a meal specially designed just for you… which of course can include things that spark your interest on the menu or dare to hear his suggestions based on what you may have a craving for. He’s wonderfully innovative. If you can’t make the Chef Tasting commitment… here are a couple of dishes I don’t think will disappoint.
AGNOLOTTINI DI FAGIANO
Is like a delicate flower. It’s light and understated but the pheasant filling is so packed with flavor it surprises you in a soft way. The butter sauce it’s paired with is ideal, anything heavier would ruin the sage subtlety. If you’re looking for a pasta dish, but don’t want to be over stuffed… it’s perfection.
*PASTICCIO DI SPINACI CON COSTATINE BRASATE
My personal favorite… and definitely the best pasta dish I’ve ever had and possibly will ever have. The Wagyu braised short ribs are so juicy the lasagna barely stays pieced together… but that’s really a beautiful thing. It’s falling apart with flavor before it even enters your mouth. I can’t even begin to describe the flavors of the sauce and it was devoured from my plate too fast to be able to dissect the seasonings. Best reason to continue to keep going back!
*GOAT CHEESE CHEESECAKE
Hopefully for your sake this is around during your visit… the desserts change frequently. And as strange as it may sound… take a chance and order this slice of perfection. It will be the creamiest, most flavorful cheesecake you will ever have. The goat cheese is understated and I promised you won’t taste much of it… it simply adds to the creaminess that makes the essence of cheesecake. It’s genius.
I’ve enjoyed everything that has come out Vivere’s kitchen and if it wasn’t terribly inappropriate I would applaud Chef James and his team every time I visit this wonderful restaurant.

Vivere is part of the Italian Restaurant Village so when you walk in, there are three restaurant entrances. We were supposed to go to one of the other two places which are more casual areas, but we accidentally walked into Vivere. I thought that the host was a bit rude while we were walking in because you could tell that he thought we didn’t belong there.
The food was extremely pricey for nothing special and I thought that the food wasn’t that delicious. I paid $ 22 for a block of spinach lasagna and I thought it wasn’t that flavorful and was a bit dry. Try one of the other two restaurants instead and leave this place to people who are probably better off in terms of money to spend.

Desserts and appetizers were excellent. We brought our own wine, and corkage was $ 25. They have a very good wine list, but this bottle was pretty special.
Beet salad was good. The gelatos and the bread pudding were very good, as were the chocolates.
Had the duck which was excellent. Pastas were good. A couple of people had the pork, and it wasn’t as good. If they changed pork purveyors and went to a heritage breed it might not be so dry.
One critique, the waiter seemed to be upselling us all the time. We had a larger party, so the tip was going to be fixed at 18%. Asked us 5 times if we wanted something from the bar etc.